Robyn Stewart
As the end of a year and the end of a decade wraps up, we set our sights on 2020 and everything it has to offer. The start of a new year is often accompanied by the development of resolutions and goals. Some folks may set goals throughout the year, write them down, and share them with friends and family. Or you may be someone who always sets New Year’s Resolutions and winds up abandoning them a month or two later. Either way, there are some things you can do when setting goals that help to ensure your long-term success in accomplishing them.
Goal setting is a skill and working towards accomplishing those goals requires practice and effort to get right. A goal is defined as “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” Having a well-defined goal is like having a map that helps you choose how to get to your destination. 4-H uses a specific goal-setting technique called S.M.A.R.T. goals, that can be useful to anyone working towards a specific accomplishment. Under the S.M.A.R.T. model, goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Here is an example of a goal that follows the S.M.A.R.T. model.
“I am going to travel three times out of state in 2020.”
Specific- it identifies exactly what I am going to do (travel), when I am going to do it by (2020), where I am going to do it (out of state), and how often I want to go (three times).
Measurable- it has clearly defined what the goal is and what the quantity is tied to it, so I can easily say “I have traveled X times out of state in 2020.”
Achievable- I have the resources I need- budget, time, vacation- to successfully accomplish this goal.
Relevant- one of my broader goals is to explore a “bucket list” of cities and countries, and this sub-goal of “travel three times out of state in 2020” aligns with taking action on that broader goal.
Timebound- I want to accomplish this in the year 2020.
To start setting goals for 2020, here are some guidelines. Begin with the end in mind by coming up with some broad areas you are interested in changing. These may include health, finances, leisure, personal development, ect. Within each of the broad areas that you identify, set some S.M.A.R.T. goals that you want to work towards. Make an action plan and identify which steps you need to take to accomplish each goal, what milestones or checkpoints you will have, and identify the timeline you want to stick to. Make sure you review your progress on your goals periodically and adjust your action plan as needed. Once the time limit on your goal has run out, check in and celebrate if you’ve achieved them or reflect on why you haven’t.
Setting goals can be a daunting task no matter what you are using it for. Using the S.M.A.R.T. method of creating goals ensures that you are setting specific goals that you can take action on and be successful in working towards accomplishing. What are you going to be working towards in 2020? Let us know at 706-359-3233 or uge3181@uga.edu
